Buy Botswana Live Cattle Directly From Exporters & Suppliers - Best of 2024 Market Prices

It is often said that the numbers of Botswana live cattle surpass the human population, the country boasts over a herd of 2.5-3 million cattle.  Never the less, cattle keeping has a huge economic impact as 90% of the cattle are kept by smallholder farmers and is considered a lucrative business.

Cattle were first domesticated in the region that covers modern-day Syria, Israel Jordan and Iran. With time, this practice was spread with the traders. 

Botswana’s climate has offered the perfect environment for cattle breeding. Due to years of practising livestock rearing, Botswana has over time perfected the art of cattle rearing through research and practical experience to produce the best breeds.

With high-quality breeds, cattle products such as hides and skins can be used to produce footwear and other leather goods that are of international standards. Other products that can be produced from cattle include meat and milk.

The main breed of beef cattle is the Tswana (Bechuana, Senchuana, or Setswana) brought into the Ngami region, Botswana, by the Tswana people in the 19th century. They are generally red, red pied, black, or black pied with long horns. The Tswana breed is heavily built with mature ones weighing up to 480 kg for a male.   

Cattle breeding have been largely carried out since the 20th century with new breeds like Africander, Sussex, Dairy Shorthorn, and Dual purpose Shorthorn being introduced to crossbreed with the Tswana. 

Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Jersey are the main breeds reared for dairy products. 

Cattle products mainly meat, hides, and skins have for long been a major export commodity in Botswana’s export trade.  Meat, hides, and skins were the leading export commodities in 1973 with a share of 55% of the export commodities.

Despite being the main agricultural activity, the beef industry has declined since the 1970s. In 2013, the share of beef and beef byproducts was 2%of the total export commodities.

Since the beef industry is an important economic player, providing both foreign exchange and employment to many people, the Botswana Meat Commission has taken measures to improve the industry.

Such measures include the provision of funds by the government for research meant to improve the cattle breeds and provision of veterinary services among others.

The government has also allowed farmers to export live cattle for slaughter until the end of March 2020. To export, the farmer will be required to provide proof of ownership and a veterinary import permit from the country of destination.

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